Celtic Knot - cuts missing?

[Lonnie in Orlando]

I received an email from Wood Mag today with a link to a video by a young man making a celtic knot pen. Looks like there is a cut(s) missing. Am I wrong?

I like his method of not cutting all the way through the blank. It eliminates the problem of the rings not lining up.

http://woodtube.ning.com/video/the-h...mail=328636941

- Lonnie

[TB Roye]

A 12 year old just taught me how to make a Celtic Knot. Very simple. Love his shop, evidently his dad is a wood worker. I couldn't tell if a cut was missing. Like the idea of now cutting all the way through the blank.

Tom

[Uncle Cracker]

The video does not show all the cuts being made. The workpiece on the lathe does show them all (the 45-degree slice should appear on all 4 sides, and in the same orientation). And this is not a result of his not using through cuts, as the result of that method would show an "X" on all 4 sides.

(I prefer the non-through cut method, as it makes keeping the pieces in proper alignment during gluing much easier.)

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Uncle C -

BINGO! You are right. Mystery solved. The uncut section hides an insert on each side.

>> Do you use a table saw or band saw for the cuts?

Hope to turn one or two this weekend.

- Lonnie

[phi1l]

>> Do you use a table saw or band saw for the cuts?

I would think that would depend on the thickness of the piece of wood to be inserted. Band saw would have a thinner kerf, Table saw wider.

[Uncle Cracker]

Do you use a table saw or band saw for the cuts?

I use a thin-kerf blade in my BT... I also clamp the workpiece between two larger pieces of scrap for the cuts... It helps me keep my fingers out of harm's way.

[georgel]

I'm Alex's dad. Thanks for looking at his video. I know he had a blast making it.

I'm missing something in the posts here as there seems to be some confusion. (maybe on my part) The video does show all 4 cuts. By not cutting all the way through the blank, the pattern on the blank is a Z not an X as you would have with through cuts. Here is a blank of Alex's from some of his Christmas pens.



As for the kerf, Alex adjusts the kerf (when needed) by shimming the blank and making more than one cut when the inlay is thicker than the kerf from a single cut. In the video the inlay was cut to the precise dimension of the kerf. For the photo above the kerf was adjusted to match the thickness of the lamination. The lamination is maple and aluminum, the blank is Jarrah burl.

George

[Uncle Cracker]

I'm missing something in the posts here as there seems to be some confusion. (maybe on my part) The video does show all 4 cuts. By not cutting all the way through the blank, the pattern on the blank is a Z not an X as you would have with through cuts.

I stand corrected... I mistook two of the cuts to be crosscuts, which I add to my pens for a concentric ring above and below the knot... Alex's uses only diagonal cuts, thus only the knot is produced... Sorry for the confusion.

[chopnhack]

Fine craftsmanship George, you have taught him very well! I can only imagine how proud you must be. I hope when my two lads are old enough they will have interest in working in the shop. Hopefully I will have it as clean and well stocked as yours!
BTW, I think if you sold that drum sander and aircraft carrier jointer Alex will be set for college - just kidding ;P

kudos to you guys!

[leehljp]

I saw all four cuts on the BS. When they are not "through cuts" you won't see the X of each side.

There was one thing he did that causes problems for many who are not experienced - He used the live center that is used for wood on a metal mandrel. Many people pull the Tail stock too tight and damage the point which ends up causing out of round. I know experienced people who watch out for this and do well just as he did.

Most people do better using a 60° live center that is the standard in metal working situations and for which mandrels have a "cup" to receive.
____________

[georgel]

I saw all four cuts on the BS. When they are not "through cuts" you won't see the X of each side.

There was one thing he did that causes problems for many who are not experienced - He used the live center that is used for wood on a metal mandrel. Many people pull the Tail stock too tight and damage the point which ends up causing out of round. I know experienced people who watch out for this and do well just as he did.

Most people do better using a 60° live center that is the standard in metal working situations and for which mandrels have a "cup" to receive.
____________

Good point Hank, we added a 60° live center earlier this year. It made a world of difference.

George

[georgel]

Fine craftsmanship George, you have taught him very well! I can only imagine how proud you must be. I hope when my two lads are old enough they will have interest in working in the shop. Hopefully I will have it as clean and well stocked as yours!
BTW, I think if you sold that drum sander and aircraft carrier jointer Alex will be set for college - just kidding ;P

kudos to you guys!

I know you are kidding, but you would be surprised at how many unkind comments Alex has received because I invested in some larger equipment.

George

[leehljp]

George,

I have seen that video several times and it always makes me happy to see someone doing work like that! Congratulations!

[Alex Franke]

That's just awesome!

Great idea, great video, great shop, great skill, great location, and -- perhaps best of all -- the kid has a great name!

[DonHo]

Here is a link to a pdf file, about a jig to make the celtic knot pens. I made this jig and followed the instructions and it works great. I use the table saw with a thin kerf blade which make the kerf 3/32" which is the thickness of pickguard or you can cut your own inserts to that thickness. http://content.penturners.org/articl...ticknotjig.pdf

Donho